KHOW Radio post-Peter Boyles: the end of localism?

In the aftermath of the abrupt departure of longtime Denver talk-show host Peter Boyles from the KHOW airwaves, the station’s managers have been rotating a number of interim hosts through the studio without naming a replacement. The Independence Institute’s Jon Caldara has been the biggest local name among them. According to Clear Channel’s Greg Foster, “no decisions have been made regarding mornings on 630 KHOW. We’re taking a listen to a lot of different hosts, including Joe Pags… and you’ll hear some other voices over the next few weeks.”

Staffers who spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the topic said there is a high degree of nervousness within the building regarding Pags as the key to the morning show’s future. Many are convinced Joe Pags (Pagliarulo) essentially has the gig. He’s been substituting this week, they say, as a way to get the technical bugs out before he officially assumes the post.

Pags does an early evening show on Clear Channel’s flagship station, WOAI in San Antonio. “The real slap in the face to those of us in Denver is that Pags isn’t going to leave San Antonio. He’s going to stay there and do both shows. So, our “local” morning show is going to be done by a guy sitting in Texas.” That solution would be in keeping with Clear Channel’s trend toward syndicated shows and fewer live and local hosts.

No matter how you felt about Boyles — and emotions ran high on all sides — he was all about Denver, a strong voice weighing in on all things Colorado. The idea that a Denver morning radio show can be plugged in from out of state is one of those unfortunate mistakes the bean counters tend to make when cutting costs. Sure, the local folks can do cut-ins for weather and traffic, but then it’s back to generic talk with no geographic connection. Various 24-hour cable TV channels, satellite radio networks and NPR provide that. Local radio has the capacity to be something different. Something truly local. It would be a shame if KHOW gave up that distinction.

I only agreed with Peter’s positions about half of the time but he was always good to listen to.

Nobody, but nobody can fill his shoes as a local radio voice.

Victoria

Wait til you get Mandy! We love her so much and hate that she’s leaving Louisville.

capt. tripps

I’ll never listen to khow again…I sure hope peter turns up somewhere.

Jimmy

He will be starting on 710 KNUS from 6-9 on Monday.

Joe Hardhat

Peter was neither conservative nor liberal, but both, depending on the issue. He was very liberal on social issues, but libertarian on fiscal concerns.

jh

It’s unfortunate Clear Channel is getting rid of the local talent. Six months ago it was Uncle Nasty and Kieffer, now this guy, and all for syndicated shows. Sad. Time will prove them wrong and local talent will be back, but it’ll take a few years.

Larryfire

Can you tell me why Denver does not have an all news all the time station? Forget KOA, and all other slanted news stations. Just give me one news,weather,sports ,traffic and business- all day,everyday. Keep the local personalities.

Kathleen

I completely agree. When I moved from California to Denver I couldn’t believe there wasn’t an all-news, all the time station. To me, that’s a given in any major city. For KOA to call itself a news station when the only news is on from 5-9 a.m. (no, top-of-the-hour updates don’t count) is ludicrous. Stefan Tubbs caused me to leave as a Morning News listener — he’s too full of himself and doesn’t have the “stuff” to justify his ego.

KHOW lost me when they put Glenn Beck on the air years ago. That was before anyone knew who he was, and he’d do horrible mean-spirited things to innocent people. I wrote to the station, and they basically told me “tough — he’s the newest thing and he’s going to be big.” Well, they certainly were correct, but that doesn’t mean they were right to put him on the air.

Mountain Man

Joe Pags has guest hosted on KOA on the weekends. You would not know he was not in Denver. He researches the local issues and is well informed.

Peter was a staple on local radio, I am sure he will be back. The Glendale Chronicle has a wonderful interview with Boyles this week. It isn’t the local Clear Channel management that made the decision but someone at Bain Capitol (owners of Clear Channel) that pulled the plug on renewing his contract. They offered him a fraction of what he had been making.

Jo Strabuchinkoskowitzenheimer

Pags fills in for Glen Beck quite a bit.

Lynn in Denver

The last two mornings, and last week, too, the show has been hosted by a woman named Mandy who talks WAY too fast and gets no callers and is very nerve-wracking to listen to because she seems so frantic. Her bio is listed on the KHOW web page with a “Welcome Mandy!” tag, so one wonders if she has the inside track, over Pags. Seems pretty clear Clear Channel was looking for any reason to boot Boyles. See reference to his comments in his column for the Cherry Creek Chronicle, previewed in the Denver Business Journal today

Sam Halford

I heard her Wednesday and this morning for about 5 seconds before turning it off. I can’t handle her fast squeaky voice first thing in the morning.

No Kidding

I’d agree that Mandy talks too fast. However, once you adjust your receiving baud rate to match with her transmit rate, she does have something worthwhile to say and doesn’t fill time with a lot of fluff as some talkers do. Her criticism of those who say “man-caused climate change”, AKA global warming, is “settled science” early this morning was a bit of welcome fresh air to my ears. How many other talk how hosts have you heard using talking points from their favorite beltway think tanks instead of doing their own research?

Mandy Connell could very well get the gig against all odds. She could also be another Rollye James in the making. Worth listening to: personable, knowledgeable, somewhat offbeat but not flaky. And with an ego kept in close check, not trying to one-up her callers

Jo Strabuchinkoskowitzenheimer

Welcome to the future of radio.

Jo Strabuchinkoskowitzenheimer

Welcome to the future of radio.

Jo Strabuchinkoskowitzenheimer

Welcome to the future of radio.

Jo Strabuchinkoskowitzenheimer

Welcome to the future of radio.

Jeds

Radio is old news. Nobody cares.

P Hut

Clearly you cared enough to post how the majority of us don’t care so good for you buddy.

Robynette

What? Radio is just as immediate as the Internet .. you are way off on this one.

CrowHill1

KHOW is just that station i “used to:” listen too. I don’t understand why Greg and Peter couldn’t have just worked things out.

George from Parker

Peter was extremely informative on ALL issues that we listeners wanted to chat about. Love him or hate him, when you called in, you better be prepared to backup your position. I can only hope he finds a gig here in Denver. We NEED his type of talk show. GOOD BYE KHOW.

teddy

Peter was well read and positioned, he really knew his history! This last year though after taking that aging mgmt, steroid crap he was getting to tightly wrapped. I can see him going off at folks when I heard the stories

JohnnyNewEggs

I enjoyed Peter’s show for a long time, but he unquestionably became more thin-skinned and strident in recent years. I’d like to see a KHOW morning show with Peter’s focus on local politics and events, but hosting duties shared by knowledgeable, sensible representatives of both sides of the political spectrum. Not another angry ranter/ partisan hack mismatch a la Sirota/ Brown, but rather two hosts who can rationally examine the news of the day with passion, intelligence, humor, and good-natured give-and-take. Jon Caldera from the right might work.

Kay Coyoteco

You mean like Caplis and Silverman? lol As infuriating as either could be on any given day, it was a great radio show.

David K Williams Jr

I have no problems with Pags, but if Clear Channel is going to pay a guy to do a Denver show and not run syndication, PAY A GUY IN DENVER.

Lew Schiller

Would that they dump Michael Brown. I’m sure he’s a swell guy but on air he’s terrible. If they won’t replace him at least send him to broadcasting school where he can learn to say something without “digressing” for a minute and a half.

Jubes

Why is “The Shiek” still on the air? What’s with his Modern Dater show? Maybe a better name would have been Master Bater!

nukegm

hollenback threw boyles under the bus. what a sissy. of the substitute hosts – pags is the best so far.

Robynette

Denver talk radio is a joke. This market is too big not to have a local political guy who is good. Dave Logan is great but KOA mornings are awful and KHOW other than Boyles is amateur and I can’t even listen to it. KNUS has a good morning thing but their signal is weak and they have a small audience. Boyles should take his act to KNUS mornings and build that station up!

Sam Halford

When Pags filled on on Monday and Tuesday he did his homework. During my commutes both mornings he was only discussing local/Colorado current events. He brings a good amount of humor to his shows too. It’s always good when you can be laughing (or at least smiling) when driving through rush hour traffic.

Sam Halford

When Pags filled on on Monday and Tuesday he did his homework. During my commutes both mornings he was only discussing local/Colorado current events. He brings a good amount of humor to his shows too. It’s always good when you can be laughing (or at least smiling) when driving through rush hour traffic.

Dav idOfAurora

…their signal is weak…
Maybe their ratings will improve so much they can afford a bigger transmitter

GaryLockhart

As a Class B license station KNUS’ power is restricted to 5KW.

Robynette

Nailed it! Boyles starts Monday!

Sam Halford

This CO Native will be happy happy happy if KHOW gets Pags, he is as entertaining as Boyles and doesn’t buy into as many conspiracies. They are both great but I will definitely look forward to hearing Pags since Peter is long gone.

tucker

don’t count him out – I think he’ll be back very soon – and bigger than ever ..

swampfox

Joe Pags is terrible. Everyone they’ve had on since Pete left is terrible. I just don’t listen anymore and since I don’t listen in the morning, you can be darn sure I don’t listen to Michael Brown in the afternoon. I used to really like Pete in the morning and Caplis and Silverman in the afternoon. The local insight is the only reason I cared. I would never tune in to Joe Pags as my regular morning ride. Time to get some new music I guess.

Sam Halford

What is terrible about Pags? I liked Peter too but Pags is way more entertaining. He is witty, funny and doesn’t use tired cliches over and over like Peter did. Plus Pags keeps the show moving. I swear Peter would do the same exact show on the same exact topic sometimes for weeks on end. See there, how I used examples instead of just saying Peter is terrible.

disqus_jp98ocmrMM

Another case of corporate America making America an even more terrible place to live.

freeman2night

Since Peter has left I’ve tuned in…then tuned out. The morning show completely sucks; they never should have fired Peter; KHOW screwed up.

Sam Halford

Boy sure are a lot of Peter lovers on here. “Peter or Die.”

DaveQ

Joe Pagg’s is the man. Refreshing how he doesn’t pull any punches and actually has an opinion on issues of the day. He is a great replacement for Peter. I liked Peter, but as they say nobody is irreplaceable. Joe is exciting to listen to and I hope he is the permanent morning host!

….

DaveQ

Joe Pagg’s is the man. Refreshing how he doesn’t pull any punches and actually has an opinion on issues of the day. He is a great replacement for Peter. I liked Peter, but as they say nobody is irreplaceable. Joe is exciting to listen to and I hope he is the permanent morning host!

….

DaveQ

Joe Pagg’s is the man. Refreshing how he doesn’t pull any punches and actually has an opinion on issues of the day. He is a great replacement for Peter. I liked Peter, but as they say nobody is irreplaceable. Joe is exciting to listen to and I hope he is the permanent morning host!

….

DaveQ

Joe Pagg’s is the man. Refreshing how he doesn’t pull any punches and actually has an opinion on issues of the day. He is a great replacement for Peter. I liked Peter, but as they say nobody is irreplaceable. Joe is exciting to listen to and I hope he is the permanent morning host!

….

DaveQ

Joe Pagg’s is the man. Refreshing how he doesn’t pull any punches and actually has an opinion on issues of the day. He is a great replacement for Peter. I liked Peter, but as they say nobody is irreplaceable. Joe is exciting to listen to and I hope he is the permanent morning host!

….

Steve Reynolds

Clear Channel has killed local radio.

babyface

KHOW BYE BYE Now that Pete is on KNUS.
Go ahead and hire PAGS, that will be the swan song for KHOW

Tim Neely

PB was great. His knowledge of all things Denver and Denver personalities is so deep that no one will be able to replace him. He also had a cross-partisan populist stance that appealed to many and won’t be easy to replicate. I can only hope that KHOW picks someone who can do a local/Denver oriented show rather than another national-politics oriented show. We have enough of those on the air. They all sound just alike.

Zenmeister

Glad Peter will be on a competitive station and will take a huge following with him. The truth will prevail after all! KHOW really screwed up. All the guest hosts have really sucked, light weights who cannot carry an interesting local topic or unbiased discussion. I predict Advertising revenues will fall quickly and lots of turnover in the future.

Zenmeister

Glad Peter will be on a competitive station and will take a huge following with him. The truth will prevail after all! KHOW really screwed up. All the guest hosts have really sucked, light weights who cannot carry an interesting local topic or unbiased discussion. I predict Advertising revenues will fall quickly and lots of turnover in the future.

GaryLockhart

Peter, whatever you do don’t allow those clowns at Channel 9 anywhere near the studio.
Keep an eye on the Arbitron ratings. KHOWs circling of the drain will only intensify.

JW M

Joe Pags is NOT the person to do the Boyles show and he proved it during his “test” appearence. Doesn’t know or care about Colorado.

Mandy Connell MIGHT (light years ahead of Pags) be good if she moves in and learns Colorado.

Wonder if I can pickup 710 KNUS here in Greeley?

John K

Peter was very well read but he always gravitated to sensationalism and conspiracies. Steve Kelley and cohorts are much better in the morning. He is too far right of me on many issues, but at least he is not always seeing a vast conspiracy behind all difficult issues. Peter would often say “what the end’s game, what’s the hidden story.” Glad he is off the air.

noname

KHOW might as well save some electricity in the AM by turning off their transmitters since Peter will be on KUSI 710 beginning 7/1/2013. Go Peter!!!

noname

So sorry, I mean 710 KNUS. So I got a little dyslexica with the letters that follow the “K”.

Robynette

I believe I nailed this one! Feel bad for Steve Kelly, He’s a great guy and great radio talent but this market hasn;t given him the respect he deserves. Shame because he and Bill Rogan are GREAT. Good luck, Steve .. it was short but sweet at KNUS ..

John Appelhans

Corporations like Not-So-Clear-Channel only care about metrics/ratings. They could care less about Colorado citizenry or the listening audience. No heart. Even less soul. Que sera. It’s their money. BUT, we the people do not have to stand for it. The best way to voice our disdain is to not tune in to any Clear Channel radio station (or at least never admit it) and to not buy stuff from their advertisers. Peter’s loyal following will continue to follow him. He will show again somewhere. Bank that! He cares about us and our communities in real time. Why would we not give back to a man who has given so much to us. Come on listeners. Step up!

John Appelhans

Joanne, really good work. KHOW should be nervous about hiring Pag. I’m a Boyles’ fan, but I tuned in to KHOW several days in a row to see who they were interviewing. I listened to Pag most of his first day, and 5 minutes of his second day. He has a really strong radio presence (a good thing), but he is a shock jock — and doesn’t have real conversations with callers…rarely allowing them to speak for longer than five seconds and shouting down anyone who disagrees with him (a bad thing). He also has a mean streak…as evidenced by how he blatantly disrespected a transgendered caller (supported on air by the Sheik…uh, Sheik, since when?)…and then continued to ridicule the caller after he was no longer on air (an unconscionable thing). Even if Peter Boyles never airs again in Colorado, I won’t be listening to Pag or KHOW (KWHO).

Lisa Mannion

Peter CANT be replaced…

Kay Coyoteco

KHOW was a great station at one point. Caplis and Silverman, Beck not opposite Rush, Boyles. Michael Brown is OK, but trying to fill four hours with intellectually UNstimulating monologue is tough. KHOW can’t survive the decisions that it has made. I could not believe this morning when I passed through the dial and heard someone in Washington DC doing Boyles’ slot.

John Patrick Cooney

Peter was controversial, as a talk show host should be….he took on causes passionately and sometimes personally. I respected his ability to ask the tough questions regarding the power players in Denver politics, sports, and not backing down in the face of political correctness. I miss him, and know Denver talk will have lost out on the only tough talk show worth listening too.

Joanne Ostrow has been watching TV since before "reality" required quotation marks. "Hill Street Blues" was life-changing. If Dickens, Twain or Agatha Christie were alive today, they'd be writing for television. And proud of it.